Fire-kindler.



R. H. UMBENHAUR. FIRE KINDLER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1910.

1,003,550. M Pat nted Sept. 19; 1911 fl Q Q WITNESSES: O 1 VENTO w 3%,, fliz- By {M ATTORNEY.

RICHARD H. UMBENHAUR, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FIRE-KINDLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1911.

Application filed November 17, 1910. Serial No. 592,804.

To all whom it" may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H. UMBEN- rmnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Kindlers, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fire kindlers of that class in which an absorbent material, such as asbestos, is packed in a perforated case and when saturated wit-h an inflammable liquid, such as kerosene, is adapted to be placed under the fuel and ignited and thereby ignite the fuel.

The object of the invention is a device of the nature described that is inexpensive to manufacture and that is capable of burning for a much longer period than is usual in such devices, thereby adapting it for use in igniting coal or other material of like nature.

The asbestos in the perforated case is to be saturated with inflammable liquid and when ignited burns for a considerable period of time. To increase the length of time during which the device will continue to burn, more of the inflammable liquid must be fed into the case, and, to accomplish this, I have arranged a reservoir for the liquid in the handle with which the case is provided. In igniting material that burns readily, it may become unnecessary to use any of the liquid in the reservoir and I have, therefore, provided a valve between the reservoir and the perforated case whereby the liquid may be held in reserve until such time as it may be required.

The novelty of the invention is in the peculiar design and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a plan view of my improved kindler. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the case showing the method of fastening the cover to the base. Fig. 4 is a detail of the valve arrangement, showing it in the open position.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the drawings and specification.

A indicates the case which is formed of two parts, an imperforate base 6 and a perforated cover 0. The base 6 is provided with lugs 6 corresponding in position with the lugs 0 on the cover. The lugs c are provided with projections c which are adapt ed to be inserted in holes in the lugs 12 and riveted as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The utility of this construction is in being able to dispense with loose rivets and evidently will save time in assembling the parts and lessen the cost of manufacture. The perforations in the cover 0 may be of any desired form suitable for the purpose. In the drawing I have shown the top of the cover provided with slots 8 and the edges of the cover and base are provided with corresponding half openings 0, the object being to expose as much of the asbestos F as possible and still hold it from displacement.

The handle is formed of a tube t, a reservoir R, and a valve body 4) to which the tube and reservoir are connected by being screwed thereinto. The handle is preferably disposed at an angle with the case,in order to allow the fluid in the reservoir to flow into the asbestos filled case when the case is in a horizontal position under the grate of a stove or furnace. The tube 25 is fastened in the case by one end being clamped between opposing half circular surfaces in the cover 0 and base I) and the opposite end of the tube is threaded for the reception of the valve body as heretofore stated. The end of the valve body opposite the tube t is threaded for the reception of the reservoir R, which is formed of tubing of greater diameter than the tube t. The valve body is provided with a passageway in alinement with the tube t and the valve end of the reservoir has a plate p fastened therein as shown which has openings 9 therethrough that are out of alinement with the passageway 7'. When the reservoir is screwed tightly into the valve body, no liquid can flow into the passageway j and tube If through the openings q as the plate Q is brought closely into contact with the valve body which closes the openings 9 and the passageway j as shown in Fig. 2. To allow liquid to flow into the passageway, and therefore into the case, the reservoir is simply unscrewed for a turn or two which withdraws the plate 72 from contact with the valve body and opens the passageway. The reservoir is provided with a removable cap (Z by means of which it may be filled. The tube 25 may also be filled with absorbent material as well as the case. The liquid would then be fed into the case by capillary attraction. The base 6 is preferably cup shaped and is imperforate at the center as shown in order to prevent the spilling of any excess fluid with which the case may become filled.

Having thus briefly described my invention and its operation, what I claim is 1. A fire kindler comprising a case for absorbent material formed of a centrally imperforate base and a perforate cover riveted together, a handle for said case comprising a reservoir for inflammable liquid and a tube forming a means of communication between the reservoir and the case, said tube being clamped between opposing, angularly disposed, surfaces on the base and cover respectively whereby the reservoir is so positioned relative to the case that the liquidin the reservoir may feed by gravity into the case, and a valve adapted to control the flow of liquid into the case, substantially as shown.

2. A fire kindler comprising a case for absorbent material formed of a centrally imperforate base and a perforate cover, said cover having lugs integrally formed therewith adapted to fit into correspondingly positioned openings in the base and be riveted in place, a handle for said case comprising a reservoir for inflammable liquid and a tube forming a means of communication between the reservoir and the case, said tube being clampedbetween opposing surfaces on the base and cover, and a valve controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the case, substantially as shown and described.

3. A fire kindler comprising a case for absorbent material formed of a centrally imperforate base and a perforate cover, said cover having lugs integrally formed therewith adapted to fit into correspondingly positioned openings in the base and be riveted in place, a reservoir for inflammable liquid adapted to be used as a hand hold, a tube forming a means of communication between the reservoir and the case, said tube being clamped between opposing surfaces on the base and cover respectively, and a valve body arranged to receive an end of the reservoir and an end of the tube and having a central passageway therethrough with which the tube communicates; said end of the reservoir carried by the valve body having an imperforate center and openings disposed about said center whereby the seating or unseating of the end of the reservoir in the valve body closes or opens the passageway in the valve body and the openings in the end of the reservoir, substantially as shown.

4. A fire kindler comprising a case for absorbent material formed of a centrally imperforate base and a perforate cover riveted together, a reservoir for inflammable liquid adapted to be used as a hand hold, a tube forming a means of communication between the reservoir and the case, one end of said tube being clamped between opposing surfaces on the base and cover respectively, a valve body having a central passageway therethrough and arranged to receive an end of the reservoir and an end of the tube, said tube communicating with said passageway, and a valve comprising a plate carried by the end of the reservoir having an imperforate center and openings disposed about said center, said valve body being provided with a seat for said plate; the seating or unseating of said plate closing or opening both the passageway in the valve body and the openings in the plate, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a fire kindler having a perforated case filled with a fire resisting, absorbent material, areservoir for inflammable fluid adapted to be used as a hand hold, a tube forming a means of communication between the reservoir and the case, and a valve body attached to the tube and the reservoir having a passageway therethrough in communication with the tube; that end of the reservoir attached to the valve body being provided with a plate having an opening out of alinement with the passageway and the valve body having a seat for the plate, the seating or unseating of the plate closing or opening both the passageway in the valve body and the opening in the plate.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD H. UMBENI-IAUR.

Witnesses:

CLIFFORD E. CLARK, HENRY P. HART.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

